301 moved permanently

Showing posts with label H1N1. Show all posts

Saturday, October 3, 2009

The 411 on H1N1

Here it is: the breakdown you've been looking for on the flu vaccines.
Who should receive them?

First- the regular seasonal flu vaccine, available now.
You should get the flu vaccine this year.
The only people who should not are infants less than 6 months, people with an egg allergy, and people with a previous reaction to the flu vaccine.

Next- the H1N1 vaccine, available in the next few weeks.
The following groups of people should get this vaccine:
Pregnant women
Children age 6 months to 18 years
Caregivers for children this age
Young adults 18-24
Health care workers
People age 25-64 with a chronic medical condition
(Examples include diabetes, asthma, COPD, and autoimmune conditions)

People age 65 and older are at lower risk for H1N1, so they are not recommended for the vaccine until the higher priority groups are inoculated. Sometime in December or January, people age 65 and older may be recommended to receive the H1N1 vaccine.

The H1N1 vaccine will be available as a nasal spray and as a shot. Pregnant women cannot receive the nasal spray because it contains a live virus. It is safe for everyone else except those with a compromised immune system (as in HIV). Children under 10 will require 2 doses about 4 weeks apart. Everyone else will need only one dose.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

This Week's Health Headlines

First H1N1 vaccine in US will be a nasal spray: CDC
Deadly mosquito-borne illness heading to US
Unhealthy habits could cost men 10 years of life
Steroid injection may help restore vision when eye veins are blocked
Daily dose of aspirin may cut colon cancer risk
Scientists discover cure for color blindness

Saturday, September 12, 2009

House Calls Episode Two

"House Calls" airs Sunday night at 10pm on AM 560 WIND and streams live at 560wind.com. In addition to the latest health headlines, I will address the topic of H1N1 flu. My guest is Donald Thompson, MD, Senior Medical and Public Health Program Director in the Center for Infrastructure Protection at the George Mason University School of Law in Arlington, Virginia.

Episode Two Action Steps:

1) Prepare to utilize hand sanitizer liberally this flu season. Purchase some bottles for you and your family to have with you at all times.

2) Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth until your hands are clean.

3) Get the regular influenza vaccine, available now at your doctor's office or other locations (unless you have a contraindication like egg allergy or previous adverse reaction to the vaccine).

4) Get the H1N1 vaccine when available (likely late October-early November) if you are in one of the recommended groups:

a) Pregnant women

b) Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age

c) Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel

d) All people from 6 months through 24 years of age

e) Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza (these would include asthma and other lung disorders, and conditions causing immunosuppression such as HIV or certain cancers).

5) If you get sick with fever, aches, cough, and congestion ("flu-like" symptoms) stay home and limit your exposure to people until 48 hours after your fever is gone.

6) If your fever is over 103, you are unable to eat or drink, or you are having severe vomiting or diarrhea, seek medical attention. These are risk factors for dehydration, a major cause of morbidity and mortality from the flu. You should also seek medical attention, of course, if you are having difficulty breathing.

7) Don't panic. Common sense will get us through this!